Pat Ditrict Governor Grant Hocking                                            Ditrict Governor Philip Archer

 

Last June 27 , 220 attendees were at the District 9800  DG Changeover which was held by Zoom .                                                                          

Despite the difficulty of addressing an impersonal computer screen (as opposed to a roomful of responsive people), outgoing DG Grant Hocking and incoming DG Philip Archer both made impressive speeches. 

This first ever District-Governor’s Changeover by Zoom was a challenge from the start, with the system refusing to admit more than 100 participants. However the IT gurus soon removed the gremlins and the changeover was up and running with over 220 attending.  

In responding to Amanda Wendt’s toast to Rotary International, RI President’s Representative Jennifer Jones  acknowledged the work of DG Grant Hocking and the difficult circumstances that he and DGE Philip Archer were having to overcome. She mentioned that the Mission Statement of the Rotary Foundation had been re-written to include the words “improving the environment” at the instigation of PDG Ian Knight. A brief but enthusiastic report on Rotaract and the foundation of new clubs followed, before DG Grant Hocking) reported on his year in office. Grant started by thanking the District Leadership Team and in particular District Secretary Jane Pennington for their support.  

DG Grant said “What a year it has been! Melissa and I would like to thank you all for your wonderful support and friendliness during the year. It has certainly ended a different way to how it started but we have all adapted well with whatever challenges have come our way.

DG Grant Presented the D9800 Royce Abbey “Champion of Change” Award to Alan Seale, for his work in the mentoring programmes for Police, Business and Ambulance Services, and the D9800 “Outstanding Rotarian” Award to a surprised David Whiting, for his five years of legal work and advice to D9800 on constitutional and compliance matters.       

DG Grant ended by passing the figurative chain of office to incoming DG Philip Archer.

 DG Philip Archer  acknowledged Grant as an outstanding leader, and thanked him and Melissa for a significant Rotary year of impressive projects and friendship,.

 

 

David Whiting was honoured at the District changeover as the recipient of the D9800 Outstanding Rotarian award

 

 

 

David Whiting is a model example of an outstanding Rotarian and one who has used his vocational expertise to support Rotary, contributing to the improvement and understanding within Rotary of legal, insurance, risk and youth protection matters.

 

In his 37 years as a Rotarian David has been a staunch supporter of all Rotary activities and involved in many community organisations.

 

As Governance Director for Rotary International District 9800 and a member of the D9800 Board for 5 years till 2019 and in the last 12 months as the District Protection Officer. he has supported the development of and updating of the District governance documents (Volunteer Declaration, Abuse and Harassment guidelines, District Protection policy, Youth Involvement documents, Sexual Harassment policy, Social Media policy, Mutual Respect, and Risk Management policies).

 

 

During this time David also lead the efforts for all Rotary Districts in Australia to develop the compliance documents and National policy for Volunteer Declarations (initially known as Form 3) ensuring the safety of all participants in youth related Rotary programs. This continued to him updating the form after changes to the process were championed by David and agreed after negotiation with the National Insurers.

 

This work also led to David developing the authorisation of the Victorian Youth Exchange Policy. This was negotiated with VRQA (Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority) and included specific legislation and the Victorian Child Safe Standards. Once again this took a few years to develop and implement and is now used by all Victorian Rotary Districts.

 

David has also supported President Elect Training at the Victorian Multi District PETS which has included 4 of the 5 Victorian Rotary Districts. David has facilitated the Governance section in 4 breakout sessions each year for several years. These sessions have focussed on Youth protection, protection, risk and insurance. David has also presented in other Districts across Australia at PETs or during club visits.

 

David has also facilitated and secured significant donations and bequests to The Rotary Foundation and Australian Rotary Health in excess of $1 million.

This year David undertook the development to update Rotary club Constitution and Bylaws specific for Victorian Rotary clubs. A large volume of work was required to complete the updates in line with the Victorian legislative requirements, and complete a package for all Victorian Rotary clubs. The package included a Victorian version of the Constitution, Bylaws, and documents explaining the process to ensure clubs adopt and submit the updated, endorsed documents to Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV). This has taken several months of personal effort by David to complete and it is being provided free of charge to all Rotary clubs across the state.  A saving of over $150,000 better used by clubs for their community projects.

 

 

 

 

Funeral of Past President Keith Joslin  

 

Keith's funeral was held at Joseph Alison Monkhouse last Wednesday.  He was the beloved husband of Glad, much loved and devoted father of Michele, Meredith and son-in-law Stephen. Loving and admired grandfather of Cameron, Lachlan, Peter and Kathy.   Loved always and forever The family had invited the following members of our Rotary Club of Keilor to attend: Cameron Horder, Kevin and Meredith Nolan, Marie Barbara, Kevin Madex, Geoff Wales and David Whiting (as president). Given Keith’s family and wide circle of friends, this was a very generous acknowledgment of Rotary’s involvement in Keith’s life.

 

David Whiting had been invited (as President) to come and to speak on behalf of the Club.

Keith joined the Rotary Club of Keilor in 1978. Why? Who knows? But Keith always repaid a favour. The Club sponsored daughter Meredith as an exchange student to Japan a few years before, and for Keith, that alone would have been enough.

He became President in 1983-84 and in a Club that then had about 80 members, that was a meteoric rise. New boy to school captain in five years. He clearly made a good impression.

. It is said that a past president in any organisation is little more than a feather duster.. Keith never stopped dusting. Sometimes with gusto. But Keith was usually far more subtle than that.   You could trust Keith with anything precious, even some Club members.

In the Rotary Club of Keilor Keith was the kingmaker. Until his decline, Keith was instrumental in anointing most club presidents, and then fully supporting them in their role. Some may have thought they had stumbled, but under Keith’s tutelage and guidance, none failed, all achieved their objectives.

The Rotary Club of Keilor rewarded Keith. The usual way is to make a donation to Rotary Foundation, and nominate a person for a Paul Harris Fellowship – named in honour of the founder of Rotary. We did that twice for Keith. But that was not enough. So we made him a life member. A full active member, but the rest of us paid his fees. And when his driving skills failed him, we picked him up and brought him to meetings.

If Keith took you under his wing – and he refused no one – you were comforted, supported and encouraged. Inside and outside of Rotary.  When he retired and had finely orchestrated his retirement portfolio, Keith cast around for something to do. Someone to work on.  Kevin Madex was the lucky man.

Kevin is in the plaster business. Soon Keith was too. Until one day some years later, Keith announced that it was his last day. “I can add no more value, so I will leave.” And he did.  But the friendship and the mutual respect never waivered.

Keith was extraordinarily proud of his family and their achievements, particularly Cameron and Lachlan, after all his email address was camlac @ optusnet.com.au. He talked often of their achievements.  But he also knew your children, and kept up to date with their achievements.

When my daughter Lisa was young, naïve and impressionable, she decided to follow Carlton, as they has just won the 1995 premiership. Keith volunteered to take her to the football with his grandsons. She went, and has maintained her interest in football, but thankfully not in Carlton. Perhaps one of Keith’s very few failures?

The Rotary Club of Keilor is a better place for having had Keith as a member. Its members have gained from his friendship. We will never be able to match his style, but would do well to copy his attitude.

 

 

Welcome everybody to the new Rotary year; a year that already presents unique challenges and vast scope for Rotary to initiate new projects, and to consolidate ongoing ones. Rotary’s theme this year is ‘Rotary Opens Opportunities’, which is timely given the peculiarities of the time we live in. However, as in the past, Rotary will recalibrate, adjust and go forward as people of action and agents of change. The Centenary of Rotary is a time for immense celebration as well as a time for reflection on the 100 years of service, the challenges that have been overcome, and the decades-worth of wonderful Rotarians who’ve served our communities. But there still much to do and much excitement ahead. On July 10 we’ll launch the Centenary of Rotary at Government House in Canberra. I encourage you and your friends to join us online for a virtual celebration that spans the country (BOOK HERE) You’ll meet our R100 Centenary Ambassadors as well as the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley as they initiate the launch. I recently enjoyed some wonderful country hospitality when I visited the Rotary clubs of Rochester and Kyneton for their changeovers. Both clubs are enthusiastic, highly engaged and ready for the year ahead. Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank Leslie McCarthy, last year’s Networker Editor, and to welcome Jeanette Leigh and her team to the first Networker of the year.